Automatic air control for gas burners



Dec. 5, 1944. L.- c. KESTER I AUTOMATIC AIR CONTROL FOR GAS 'BURNERS Filed Dec. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Zyrzm /2sfer B] and Dec. 5, 1944. 1.. c. KESTER AUTOMATIC AIR CONTROL FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Dec. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/ I Inventor @g w/Zim W Patented Dec. 5, 1944 Lynn 01 Kester, H'reford, Tex. v ApplicationDec'ember 5, 19422,? SeriaLNo. 467,985 2 Claims. (01'; 1'58 118) The' present invention relates generally to'automatio air controls forgas burners of a generally similar nature to tliat constituting the subject matter of my United States Patent No.

2,296,792, issued on" September 22', 1942, uponwhich the present device constitutes an improvement? It' isamatterof commomknowledge in the art that; when thetemperature of 'the surrounding atmosphere'is high; ages burner will function more efflc'iently andon a leaner mixture than when the adjacent atmosphere is at a low temperature. It is accordingly the primary object of the present invention to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for automatically admitting more air to the burner for thinning the fuel mixture as the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere rises.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an automatic air control of the character described for gas burners which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in operation, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein- Figure l is a view in side elevation of an automatic air control constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 44' of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference numeral l designates generally a burner comprising a perforated mixing tube 2. The tube 2 includes, on its rear end, an enlarged chamber 3, the back wall 4 of which has formed therein a plurality of air intake ports 5.

The ports 5 communicate with an angular air conduit 6. Formed in the angle or bend of the air conduit 6 is an opening 1 which accommodates a gas pipe 8, said gas pipe passing centrally through the back wall 4 of the chamber 3 and projecting longitudinally into'the mixing tube 2 ofthe burner I.

Rotatably mounted on the gas pipe 8,-between the back wall 4 of-the burner chamber 3 and the 1 adjacent endof the air conduit 6; is a-valve disk 9= for-controlling the ports 5; The valve disk?! hasformed thereina-"plurality of ports l0 which communicate'withthe ports 5 when said valve disk is in open'orpartially-open position. Projecting -rear-wardly'from the valve disk 9 is an annular flange ll 'which rotatably encircles the adjacent end portion of the air conduit 6. Projecting forwardly from the periphery of the valve disk 9 is a comparatively long annular flange I2 which rotatably encircles the chamber 3. The flange l2 has formed on its periphery a gear segment IS.

A bracket l4 projects from a suitable supporting structure l5 adjacent the valve 9. Pivotally mounted at IS on the bracket I 4 is an arm IS. A gear segment I1 is formed integrally with the pivoted end of the arm l6 and engaged with the gear segment [3 on the flange I2. Formed on the free end of the arm I6 is an eye l8.

A bracket I9 is mounted on the supporting structure 15 and carries a suitable conventional diaphragm 20. A depending rod 2| is operatively connected to the diaphragm 20 and terminates in a threaded lower end portion which isengaged in the eye I8 of the arm l6. An adjustable nut 22 is threaded on the lower portion of the rod 2| for engagement with the eye l8 for swinging the arm l6 downwardly. A return spring 23 has one end connected to the arm l6 and its other end connected to the bracket IS. A stop screw 24, adjustably mounted in the bracket 25 is engageable by the arm l6 for positively limiting the upward swinging movement of said arm under the influence of the coil spring 23.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the surrounding atmosphere is at a lower temperature, the valve 9 is in a position to admit just enough air to the mixing tube 2 through the ports 5, thereby assuring a sufficiently rich mixture to facilitate the starting and the initial operation of the burner. As the surrounding atmosphere in which the thermostat 2D is located is heated by the burner and the temperature thereof rises, the thermostat expands and swings the arm 16 downwardly against the tension of the spring 23 through the medium of the elements 2| and 22. In this manner the valve 9 is rotated through the gear segments I1 and I3 for gradually opening the ports 5 Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A gas burner comprising a mixing tube in-' cluding a closed end having air intake ports therein, an air conduit having its discharge end opposed to said closed end of the mixing tube, a

gas pipe in the air conduit extending into the mixing tube through said closed end thereof, a valve rotatably mounted on thegas pipe between the air conduit and the mixing tube for controlling the ports, and temperature responsive means operatively connected to the valve for opening and closing the same for increasing or decreasing the flow of air into the mixing tube as the temperature of the adjacent atmosphere rises and falls, said means including a pivotally mounted arm, ooacting gear elements on the pivoted end of said arm and on the valve for connecting said valve to said arm for rotation thereby in opposite directions, a thermostat operatively connected to the arm for opening the valve, and a return spring connected to the arm for closing said valve.

5 2. A gas burner comprising a mixing tube including an enlarged chamber on one end, said chamber comprising an end wall having a plurality of air intake ports therein, an air conduit including a discharge end opposed to and spaced from said end wall and communicating with the chamber through the ports, a gas pipe in the air conduit extending through said end wall into the chamber and the mixing tube, a valve disk rotatably mounted on the gas pipe between the air conduit and the chamber for controlling the ports, said valve disk having a plurality of ports therein for communication with the first-named ports, annular flanges on the valve disk rotatably encircling the adjacent end portion of the air conduit and the chamber, a pivotally mounted arm, ooacting gear elements on the armand one of the flanges for operatively connecting said arm to the valve disk, temperature responsive means operatively, connected to the arm for opening the valve disk for increasing the flow of air to the mixing tube as the temperature of the adjacent atmosphere rises, and means connected to the arm for closing said valve disk for decreasing the flow of air to the mixing tube as the temperature of the adjacent atmosphere drops.

LYNN C. KESTER. 

